Method of and apparatus for removing core-covering material



plil 14, 1931- c. A. METzGl-:R 1,800,950

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING CORE GOVERING MATERIAL Filed Oct. 29, 1927 Patented Apr. 14, 1931 UNITED STATES PATEN'I`- OFFICE i CHESTER ALLISON METZGER, CHICAGO, ILLNOIS, SSGNOR TO VJESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF` NEW' YORK, N. Y., A. OORE'ORATION OF NEW YORK.

METHOD OF AND APIARATUS FOR`REMOVING CORE-GOVERINGJMATEBIAL Application filed October 29, 192%V Serial No. 229,5'i.V

This invention relates to methods of and apparatus for removing core covering material, and more particularly to methods `of and apparatus for removing insulation from conductors. j

It is sometimes necessary to remove a portion of the coating or covering ot' core material in orderfto permit free access to the core. Thus, fori example, in certain types or protective devices, suc as fuses, commonly known as` heat coils which are used very extensively to protect against abnormal surges in telephone apparatus, an insulated conductor extending from one end "of the coil must be partially stripped of its impregnated coating in order to solder the conductor tothe opposite end of the coil assembly. In such instances caremust be exercised inthe removal of the insulation to prevent injury to the conductor and `to exposeonly a pre-` determined portion of the conductor core. j

The primary objects oi' thisinvention are to provide an expeditious method of and a durable and efficiently operable apparatus for removing covering material from cores. if

In accordance with the general features of ythe invention, one; embodiment thereof `by means of which the improved method may be effectivelypracticed includes a pair of continuously rotating stripping members resembling taps commonlyemployed inthreadfing drilled holes. Heatcoils each havingan insulated conductor extending therefrom are intermittently advanced by an endless coni vcyor `and each coil is swung upwardly upon approaching the stripping members, the conductors thereof being subsequently fed `between the threads of the members. Adjacent companion portions of the threads etlectively remove the conductor insulation and simultaneously advance the conductor lengthwise of the members. The stripping members may be suliiciently heated to prevent the .accumulation of insulationwax and the likebetvveen `conductor coating may be readily accom- `plishedl These and other objects will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description when considered in `connection with the .accompanying drawing, wherein i Fig. l 1s a plan view of an apparatus embodying the invention and whereby the improved method maybe eliciently practiced,

a portionof the endless conveyor being shown f diagrammatically j Fig. 2 `1s an enlarged fragmentary plan View of the stripping mechanism and associated conveyor disclosedin Fig. 1; j

Eig. 3 is an `elevational View` of the stripping mechanism asviewed from thefront in ,Fig 2; j j

Fig. @isa fragmentary elevational View oi' the stripping mechanism as viewed from the left in Fig. 2; 1

F ig. 5 is an enlarged detailed view of the rotary stripping members shown in section, a heat coil conductor being shown in operative association with the strippingmembers, and j Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the `heat coil assembly disclosing the conductor thereof as it appears after having been subjected to the stripping operation.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like numerals have been `employed to designate similar parts throughout the various figures7 it will be observed that` a stripping mechanism is denoted generally bythe numeral l0. This strippingmechanism `comprises a pair of adj acont-stripping members 11 which conform in design to taps,the threads being interruptedso as topresent four radial` blades or cutters 12 which are provided with threads 14 along their circumferential surfacesl (Fig. 5). These taps or strippingmembers 11 are formed integral with `and at" one extremity of Shanks 15 (Figa 2 and a) which are rotatably mounted Within a support 1G. This support 16 includes a slidablebearing block 18 (F ig. 4) which supportsthe outermost shank 15 and by manipulating adjusting screws 19 thisloutermost shank together with itscompanion stripping member 11 may be moved laterally with respect tothe innermost shank and stripping member. s Upon loosening the screws 19 another adjusting screw 22 maybe manipulatedlto control the positioning of the outermost stripping member, j The ping ymemben. it will be readily understood that .this adjustment can be performed With-V out causing the disengagement oi the gears 23 Vfrom each other. The stripping inech- 'Y anism is further provided with a pair of guide blocks 28 suit lysecured :by means oi screivs 29 to the side oi. the supporting block l16, the outermost guide block 28 being sethe outer guide block 28 is an arcuate guide rod 30 which is designed to direct 4'conductors fed thereto intoproper positionivithin a -guideway 31 presented fbetween' the 'guide blocks 28.V i f Y l. An endless conveyormechanism or chain 33 is formed with a plurality of support arms 34 Whichrare formed lintegrallywith and extend outwardly from'each link of the' con# veyor chain. A depending memberl 35 conveniently inserted Withinthecollets 38: 5c

(Figs. 3 andr4) on each'arm 347pivotally 'supports a -pi-n SZ which is provided at its v outer or ree'extremity with a colletBS.- This kcollet 38 is designed to receive aprojecting pin 39,01: a heat coil assembly 41. The-con- Vv've'yor mechanism 33 *is guided by means of suitable chain sprockets42 f (Fig. 1.)' and' intermittent movement'in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. lis imparted to the conveyor chainBB by means of aV-Geneva drive mechanism. 48. This VGeneva drive mechanism 43 includes af Geneva" Wheel 45 which isadapted to fbe rotated throughonequarter of arevolution upon eachV rotation ot Va driving Wheel 46 and continuous rotation is imparted to lthe driving Wheel 46bymeans of an electric motor 47 geared thereto.

The heat -coil assemblies 41 includes faninf sulated'conductor -49 Which-extends outivardlyfrom one endzrofl L'the' assembly. The `pro- Oif'the dependingpins 37 .and as each coil assembly approaches the vstripping mechanism 10,' the pin 37 thereof is Carried intoenl` .gagement With a cam 50 which causes 4the pin tto be moved from itsinitial vertical position to a horizontal position as clearly shown `in Fig. 3. The horizontaly positioning of vkthe pin 37 brings the conductor'49 into association with thek arcuate rod 30 andthe conductor is thus directed upon the movement of the Vconveyor Vcha-in into the passageway.' 31. As the conductor venters v the passageway '31 itis carried into association with contacting -portionsfo-f thel threads 14 ofthe-stripping l members 11 and-in thisconnectio'n.` lis tov be understood-that,continuous rotation isi 1mdefinite portion of the insulation lof the conductor `49 andsimultaneously cause the conductor to be fed lengthwise-of the members V1.1. The cutting or scraping action ofv the blades 12 will vbe apparent )from the disclo isure 'in Fig. 5 :wherein t'he conductor V49V is shown in operative association With' sections of the'threads 14. lIt willbe observed that as the blades12 of thest'rippingmembers 11 are lalternately moved into upward scraping engagement with the conductor insulation, v sa-idA conductor Willbe ilexedltowvard :the opcured to the bearing member 18. Secured to posite stripping member `lby reason ,of such engagement. This V.tirati-ng ,orlyielding' olf the conductor' will take pilaceibetween two olif the adjacentk blades on the oppositestrip ing lsponsiverto the" alternate .scraping fengage Ament-,of fthe-blades l2,y the insulation maybe positively removedY `without any danger-of injury toV the conductor-coreiresultingfrom 4 the scraping 'action' ofgthe blades A groove or'recess "md-Fig' :2

acted upon by the-threads fof thestripping conductor 'is not engaged by'thejthreads 114 duri-ng the dwell Y of the' conveyor L mech a-nisni after the initial action of the-th'reaclsupon )Hierin-ed i cachot the 'stripping `membersQ11 receives the conductor 49 after' itxha'slbeeninitially the conductor.,A the conductor"49iieaclies the inner ends of the stripping rnechzi'iisni -11 andl isladvan'ced frombetween'fthethreads thereof a sudden'droppin the-suiffacegfof the cam 50 causes the-pinST-and :companion Icolllet 38 to ,be swung doWnwardl-yfby grav-ity to the initial vertical, position/as clearly'ishownin Fig, v4. p 1 Thus? it is to'be app areiitzthat rafter s A`I the conductor "49' has been' Tied 'between the jectingpinBQ of each coil assembly 41 may be f iiio threads vthroughouty 'the ienti-relextentlof- :the Y 4stripping- `members 4'111, Ya predetermined i'por-A -tioii of the insulation lthereof*Willfhavefbenf removed Y' igs; 5 and, i6). `Thispermits? of free access to theibare conductorcoreor the purpose yof'sol'deringv said :conductorito'a v head 52 *of the heat coil `a`sse-imlily 1in posiytionclearly indicated; by-"the fdotted "lines' (Figr): 7";

An impregnated 4insulationissometimes. v employedffor usewith fthe endiictorsoIf/heat c coil assemblies ivhich'icontainslwaX-and-Iother 2325 lvent the-v accumulationfof :suohwany vknfiaterials Abetween :the threads 14 of -thefstiiipping '1 members 11, heat is sup lied tothese linemupwardly' between the shanlrs l5. The heat received by the shanlrs l5 is transferred by conduction to the stripping members ll and this heat is suilicient to melt the waxy inatemembers l1. I-Ieat coil assemblies 41 may be V manually inserted within the spring collets 38 and as said assemblies approach the stripping mechanism l0 the cam 50 causes the upward swinging thereof until the supporting pin 37 assumes a horizontal position and the arcuate guide rod serves to properly guide the conductors 49 into the guideway 31. During one of the advancing movements of the conveyor mechanism 33 the conductor a9 is fed between a portion oi the threads 14 of the stripping members and during the dwell following this movement the conductor is positioned within the grooves 5l so as to eliminate any deleterious eiiects which might result if the conductor were allowed to remain in Contact with the rotating threads during the dwell of the conveyor mechanism. Upon the subsequent advancement of the conductor the remaining portions of the threads in the stripping members effectively remove any of the insulation which might be present upon the conductor core, and the coil assembly is then swung downwardly into a position to permit the removal thereof from the collet 38. By having the bearing block 18 slidable within the block 1G, the outer stripping member 11 may be laterally adjusted in accordance with the size of the conductor which is to be stripped.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the described apparatus presents a very effective means for continuously removing insulation from conductors so as to expose a predetermined portion of the conductor core without the slightest degree ofinjury thereto. The invention has been described in connection with a particular type of machine for stripping the insulation of a certain class of j conductors, but it is to be clearly understood that the invention is capable of numerous other applications and therefore shouldbe limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. The method of removing covering material from a core, which consists in advancing a covered core along a predetermined path and in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the core, engaging the covered core to remove a predetermined por' ition of covering material therefrom, and in contemporaneously effecting the flexing of the core in response to the engagement therewith.

"2. The method of removing" .insulation from a conducton which `consists in advanc ing an insulated conductor alonga predetermined" path andin a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the conductor, removing a predetermined intermediate portion of the insulation duringthe advancement thereof by scraping in "a direction" longitudinallyjof the conductor core,` and in contemporaneously eiiecting4 the flexing of `the lconductor. M j y 3. In apparatus forlremoving insulation from a' conductor; a pairof parallel rotary strippingmembers having interrupted co-` operating threads for receiving and stripping an insulated conductor, `a conveyor for intermittently advancing insulated conductors between the rotary stripping members `axially thereof," means for continuously rotating the stripping members; and means for intermittently actuating the conveyor.

"4'. In apparatusifor removinglcovering material `from a core,` a; rotary stripping `means having peripheral lthreads for receiving and stripping acovered core, saidthreads being interrupted by circumferentially disposed spaces to present circumferential cut- 1 ters, means for presentingthe covered core across a space between adjacent cutters sothat each cutter has a continuouscuttingaction fora substantial portion of the periphery or the rotary stripping means,V :and means for rotating said stripping means.

5. In apparatus for removing covering material. from a core, a rotary stripping means having peripheral threads forreceiving 'and stripping a covered core, saidthreade being interrupted by circumferentially disposed spaces to present circumferential cut ters, means for presenting the covered core across a space between adjacent cutters so that each cutter has a continuous cutting action for `a substantial portion of the periphery of the rotary Stripping means, means for advancing the covered core longitudinally of the axis or said stripping means, and means for rotating said stripping means. a

i 6. In apparatus for removing covering material from a core, a pairV of adjacent rotary stripping members having cooperating threads carried by spaced radial members alternately engaging the Work for stripping the covering material from the core, means for feeding the `covered core between the rotary stripping members, and means for rotating said stripping members.

7. In `ajgiparatus for removing covering material from the core', arotary stripping Vmeans having annular grooves for receiving acrossa space between aljacentclltters `so thatneach cutter' lhas .a continuous cutting K actionfor a substantial .portion of the periphery ofthe rotarystripping means, `and means 5 lfor rotating the strippingl means.

' .8. In apparatus for. removing covering material from la Ve,o.re,fa 4rotary stripping .meanshaving peripheral threads forre'ceivingiand-stripping a covered core, said threads w bei-nef interrupted by .circlimferentially dis-V.

pose spacesfto ,present ci-rournferentiali cutv ters,-each `cutter 'having a Continuous ctting y action for a substantial portion'of the periphery of the rotary stripping means, means 15 for 'rotating said stripping means,a conveyor ,means Y associated with said stripping .means fon-supporting theY covered; corey and for adV vancing the covered Ycore longitudinally of Y the axis of said rotary stripping means, and

zo meansrfor actuatingsaidconveyor means." 9. In apparatus for .removing insulating c material from a -`Core, apair of Vrotary lstripi ping members.V ,havingfannular igrooves for f receiving and .stripping the Ycovering `from a Y 25 core, Vsaid grooves being interrupted i by cir- .cumferentially disposed: spaces to v.prf-zsent circumferential entters alternately engaging fthe coveringfmaterial for stripping the cover- `i-ng materialroInthe-core, means for flexibly o. 3o supportingtlievcoyered core and for movingV l Vitlie covered core into operative engagement with said-rotary stripping means. 1 L Y Inwitness Wliereof, Iryhereunto `subscribe i Vany name this .QQtlLday `of October, A. D. 1927. 35 CHESTER VALLISON ME'lZGrEILY l. 

